How Did Bubba Wallace Jr.’s Cousin Sean Gillispie Die? Sean Gillispie, Bubba Wallace Jr.’s cousin, is currently making news due to his untimely demise. So, in this post, we’ll discuss him and the circumstances surrounding his demise. Viewers who tune in to Netflix’s ‘Race: Bubba Wallace’ will undoubtedly learn about the talented driver’s NASCAR accomplishments and how he evolved into his role as an unlikely but vital advocate against racial injustice. Bubba’s thinking as a child was also affected by the loss of his cousin, Sean Gillispie, when he was just nine years old. Bubba, his mother, and his sister discuss how Sean’s untimely death affected their lives in the docu-series. So, if you’re curious about the young man’s fate, we’ve got you covered.
How Did Bubba Wallace Jr.’s Cousin Sean Gillispie Die?
Sean Gillispie was found hanging out with a few pals in the parking lot of a convenience store in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the early hours of May 18, 2003. The 19-year-old had gone out to a club before ending up in the parking lot, playing loud music, according to the episode. While complaining about the ruckus outside, the store clerk called the cops, prompting two officers to respond.
The parking area was packed with cars when the officers arrived. This caused them to walk in and request that the cars depart one by one. Sean was in the rear seat of a car with Frank Mitchell in the driver’s seat at the time. Derek, Frank’s cousin, had arrived in the same automobile as Frank but was in another vehicle nearby at the time of the accident. While the events that followed became a source of disagreement, it all came to a head when one of the policemen shot Sean in the chest, killing him.
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Who Killed Sean Gillispie?
David Ogle and Jason Keck were the cops who responded to the noise report. The car in which Frank and Sean were sitting had its windows slightly lowered and was playing loud music, according to David. He then proceeded to the vehicle’s side to inquire about Frank’s driver’s license and registration. David claimed to have seen a revolver beside Sean in the backseat with his hand resting on it at this point.
Sean was immediately instructed to lay down the rifle and raise his hands. Jason, who was in the front seat at the time, was informed. Jason ordered Frank to raise his hands while David went around the car, removing the weapon from Sean’s reach. While Jason stated he had no idea where the pistol was in the truck, he said Sean was moving his hands and then raising them, pointing a 9mm at him. Jason indicated that he was afraid for his life at this time, so he shot Sean in the chest. Later, the teen was injured when he tumbled out of the automobile. Derek, who dashed toward Sean, later claimed that he spotted his friend holding a phone.
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Tanya Gillispie, Sean’s mother, filed a wrongful death claim against the city of Knoxville in May 2004, alleging negligence. Sean was merely trying to get his phone to make a call, according to his family. The judge eventually decided in favor of the city, stating that there was no evidence to counter Jason’s statement and that his use of lethal force was lawful. Bubba’s mother, Desiree, said on the show that every time a black person was killed by the police, the family relived the agony, which rang all too true given the events of 2020.
About Bubba Wallace:
William Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. is a professional stock car racing driver from the United States. He is a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver for 23XI Racing, driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry. Wallace previously worked as a development driver for Toyota’s driver development program, driving part-time in the Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing and full-time in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He then joined Ford’s driver development program and raced full-time in the Xfinity Series for Roush Fenway Racing.
Wallace ultimately became a full-time driver for RPM in the legendary No. 43 after Aric Almirola departed the team, which was his first full-time ride in the Cup Series. Every year he has participated in NASCAR’s three national series (Cup, Xfinity, and Truck). Wallace has been the only full-time African American driver. Wallace is the first African-American driver to win in each of these series many times, making him one of NASCAR’s most successful African-American racers.
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